Homeserve - Sewer backup - insurance

[Rob Gribben]

I own two properties in Baltimore city.  I keep getting letters from Homeserve trying to get me to purchase sewer line backup insurance.  The city has contracted with Homeserve to provide insurance against sewer line backups that spill over into the basement.  It's the city's way of trying to avoid having to pay for these issues when they happen (and they do happen pretty frequently).  The city is currently replacing sewer lines, and the work is apparently leading to a lot of sewer line backups into basements.  There was an article in the Baltimore Sun over the weekend about it.  Seeing that article made me think seriously about purchasing the insurance plan.  I'm trying to figure out if it's worth it or not.  Are they going to cover the cost to clean/replace drywall, etc., or just clear the block and then you are still stuck paying for damages?  Any other Baltimore investors/landlords have or consider purchasing insurance that covers sewer line backups?

[Ozzy Sirimsi]

@Kim Coleman @Stanley Parsley

Last year, we had a sewer back up at one of my properties.It was an emergency, we called Len-the-plumber, they investigated, and said that pipes outside of the house to the city line need to be replaced. 

However, I called 311, they came out, cleaned out their end of the things, len-the-plumber guy did some stuff on our,and problems was gone. 

However, one of my friend who works in the city told me about HomeServe, I purchased the insurance just in case, and that was it. 

 9 months later,almost 3 weeks ago now, I got a call for the same issue, plumber came investigated, said the exact same thing, quoted for 5k. 

We first called home insurance,did not really get any help, then we called Homeserve. Their plumber came, investigated again, said the same thing which is all the pipes outside of the house, in the yard to the city line, were destroyed because of the tree roots. 

They said it is covered. It took them 3 days, the first they dug-in with caterpillars, replaced the older pipes, put the new ones in.

Cost us 0 dollars. 

I highly recommend it. I already bought more coverage for my other properties.